IJune 12, 1956

Rizal Law

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425

AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COURSES ON THE
LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS OF JOSE RIZAL, PARTICULARLY HIS NOVELS NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO,
AUTHORIZING THE PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novel Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be
included in the curricula of all schools, colleges and universities, public or private

SECTION 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges and universities to keep in their libraries an adequate number of copies of
the original and unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as of Rizal’s other works and biography

SECTION 3. The Board of National Education shall cause the translation of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as other
writings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and the principal Philippine dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap, popular editions;
and cause them to be distributed, free of charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the Purok organizations and Barrio
Councils throughout the country.

SECTION 4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amendment or repealing section nine hundred twenty-seven of the
Administrative Code, prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines by public school teachers and other person engaged in any
public school.

SECTION 5. The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any fund not otherwise
appropriated in the National Treasury to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

CONDITIONS OF THE COUNTRY BEFORE THE BIRTH OF JOSE RIZAL:

1. More than 300 years of Spanish suppressive colonial rule
2. Several attempts, through revolts or uprisings, by the natives to drive the foreign rulers away were all futile
3. The lack of unity and nationalism seemed to be the culprit
Policies Imposed by the Colonizers
1. Polo- the enforced or compulsory manual labor required for every male native between 16 to 60 years of age.
2. Tribute- tax imposed on every individual or family to pay to the colonial government as a symbol of vassalage to Spain
3. Encomienda – a system of landholding wherein individuals loyal to Spain were granted land as trustees
4. Isolation Policy – the natives were banned from engaging in any form of intercourse with their Asian neighbors.
5. Divide and Rule – the colonizers provoked the natives to fight among themselves thus, strengthening their hold of power
6. Frailocracy – the rule of the friars or the clergy
 EVENTS LEADING TO THE CHANGE OF SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT
1. Intellectual Revolution (Enlightenment)
2. Industrial Revolution
3. Age of Explorations and Discoveries
4. The Opening of the Philippines to World Trade

A. AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT
Enlightenment, French (literally “century of the Enlightened”), a European intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries in
which ideas concerning God, reason, nature, and humanity were synthesized into a worldview that gained wide assent in the West
and that instigated revolutionary developments in art, philosophy, and politics.

The Enlightenment was both a movement and a state of mind. The term represents a phase in the intellectual history of Europe, but
it also serves to define programs of reform in which influential literati, inspired by a common faith in the possibility of a better world,
outlined specific targets for criticism and proposals for action.

B. INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

The Industrial Revolution was a period of major industrialization that took place during the late 1700s and early 1800s. The
Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain and quickly spread throughout the world; the American Industrial Revolution,
commonly referred to as the second Industrial Revolution, started sometime between 1820 and 1870. This time period saw the
mechanization of agriculture and textile manufacturing and a revolution in power, including steam ships and railroads, that effected
social, cultural and economic conditions.

Breaking Down Industrial Revolution

Increased Employment and Innovation
Pitfalls of the Industrial Revolution

C. AGE OF EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERIES

The Age of Exploration is an informally defined period of European history when overseas exploration became a major part of
European culture.

The Age of Exploration, also known as the Age of Discovery, is the period in European history when overseas exploration began to
grow in popularity. This era began in the late 1400’s and lasted through the 1700’s.

Events Leading Up to the Age of Exploration

In the 12th century, Muhammad al-Idrisi, an Arab geographer, created a world map for the King of Sicily. Al-Idrisi collected
information from Norman explorers and Islamic merchants, creating the most complex and thorough world map of its time.
However, little was known about the southern reaches of the African continent, so it was excluded. This map, the Tabula Rogeriana,
provided inspiration to a number of curious explorers.

The First Discoveries of the Age of Exploration

The Portuguese are often credited with making the first discoveries of the Age of Exploration. These exploration parties traveled
down the west coast of Africa and eventually to the Cape of Good Hope and into the Indian Ocean by 1488. A decade later, Vasco de
Gama discovered the way around the Cape of Good Hope and to India, which established the first sea route between Portugal and
India. Portuguese exploration continued to Japan in 1542 and to Brazil in 1500.

Exploring the Pacific Ocean and Beyond

Magellan took off from Seville with a fleet of 5 ships, sailing south toward South America and navigating around the southern tip
known as Tierra del Fuego. The crew continued across the Pacific Ocean, landed in the Spice Islands in 1521, and returned to Spain in
September of 1522.
Legacy of The Age of Exploration

During the Age of Exploration, the slave trade grew significantly which had a profound impact on the economy and on society as a
whole.

 OPENING OF THE PHILIPPINE PORT TO WORLD TRADE

 History of Opening of Port to World Trade

The world turns its eyes on the Philippines when, the Royal Company of the Philippines, or in Spanish, the Real Compaña de Filipinas
Governor-General Félix Berenguer de Marquina recommended that the King of Spain to open Manila to world commerce.
Furthermore, the bankruptcy of the Real Compaña de Filipinas (Royal Company of the Philippines) catapulted the Spanish king to
open Manila to world trade. In a royal decree issued on September 6, 1834, the privileges of the company were revoked and the
port of Manila was opened to trade.

On September 6, 1834, the Philippines opened to world trade- by a royal decree, Your Majesty the King declared the Royal
Company of the Philippines abolished and opened Manila’s ports to world trade.
Sugar became the leading export crop. In 1834 Spain lifted restrictions on trade between foreign nations and the Philippines.

 People involved in Opening the Port to World Trade

The good and quite modern King Charles III of Spain was the one who created the company, and his goal was to make trade to Spain
from the Philippines more efficient. Your Majesty the King declared the Royal Company of the Philippines abolished and opened
Manila’s ports to world trade.  Governor-General Basco had opened the Philippines to this trade.

Sebir (1787) a Frenchman conducted a profitable business in Manila; Tomas de Comyn (1798), a Spanish writer, in his book
published in Madrid 1820, mentioned an unnamed English merchant who left the Philippines in 1798 after living in Manila for 20
years during which he became rich; George W. Hubbell (1821), an American businessman, and his younger brother Henry, arrived in
Manila, engaged in business, and founded the Hubbell Company.

What Is the Impact of Opening the Port to World Trade to All Filipinos?

The Impact of Opening the Port to World Trade to All Filipinos 19th Century:

a. When world trades open to the Philippines, it has caused for the Spaniards to sell more product to other countries
b. The economy of the Philippines rose rapidly and its local industries developed to satisfy the rising demands of an
industrializing Europe.
c. Manila and the Philippines garnered great economic growth around this time. Many shops opened in the Binondo and the rest
of the “Extramuros” area (the areas outside of Intramuros).
d. In short by 19th and 20th century, the opening of the port and the other parts of the Philippine to foreign trade brought not
only economic prosperity to the country but also remarkable transformation in the life of the Filipinos. As the people,
prospered, their standard of living improved.

JOSE PROTACIO RIZAL MERCADO Y ALONZO REALONDA

"PEPE"
Born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna. He was the 7th in a brood of 11 children of Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonzo. He
was baptized 3 days later by Father Rufino Collantes in the Catholic church of Calamba. Father Pedro Casañas stood as his godfather
(ninong).

FRANCISCO MERCADO
(May 11, 1818 – January 5, 1898)
Father of Jose Rizal, was a native of Biñan, Laguna. He was an educated and industrious farmer who studied Latin and Philosophy
at Colegio de San Jose in Manila. Of Chinese ancestry, his great grandfather Domingo Lam-co was a native of Amoy (now
Guanzhou), China who married the Filipina Ines de la Rosa.
On 28 June 1848, he married Teodora Alonzo Realonda. In 1849, when Gov. Narciso Claveria issued the decree on the
Hispanization of Filipino names, he chose the new surname Rizal, from the Latin word “ricial” meaning “rice field.” In 1850 he
petitioned the court to change the family name to Rizal, with all their children being surnamed as such.

TEODORA ALONZO REALONDA

(November 8, 1826 – August 16, 1911)
The mother of Jose Rizal, a Manileña, was a highly educated Filipina who graduated from the Colegio de Santa
Rosa. Of Spanish and Japanese ancestry, Teodora was a talented woman whose interests lay in literature, culture, and business, and
was well-versed in Spanish. Her great grandfather, who was of Japanese blood, was Eugenio
Ursua (Ochoa). Her maternal grandfather was Manuel de Quintos who was a popular lawyer in his time, while her paternal
grandfather was Cipriano Alonzo who belonged to Biñan's long list of Capitanes. Teodora was second child of Lorenzo Alberto
Alonzo, an engineer and a recipient of the most sought decoration, the Knight of the Grand Order of Isabella and the Catholic Order
of Carlos III; and Brigida de Quintos, a fair and well-educated lady.

SATURNINA "NENENG"
1850 - 1913
She is the eldest. She became the wife of Manuel Hidalgo of Tanawan, Batangas.

PACIANO
1851 - 1930
He was the family caretaker. After his younger brother’s execution, he joined the Philippine Revolution. He retired to his farm in Los
Baños where he lived as a farmer. He had 2 children by his common- law wife Severina Decena - a boy and a girl.

NARCISA "SISA"
1852 - 1939
She was married to Antonio Lopez, a school teacher of Morong, Rizal

OLIMPIA "IPIANG"
1855 - 1887
She became the wife of Silvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph operator of Manila. She died in 1887 from childbirth.

LUCIA
1857 - 1919
She became the wife of Mariano Herbosa, a town mate from Calamba. Herbosa died of cholera and was denied Christian burial
because he was a brother-in-law of Dr. Jose Rizal

MARIA "BIANG"
1859 - 1945
She became the wife of Daniel Cruz Faustino of Biñan, Laguna.

JOSE PROTACIO "PEPE"

1861 - 1896
The seventh child in the family. He was married to a Scottish girl named Josephine Bracken.

CONCEPCION "CONCHA"
1862 - 1865
She died at the age of three (3) due to illness.

JOSEFA "PANGGOY"
1865 - 1945
She was an epileptic and died at the age of 80 as a spinster.

TRINIDAD "TRINING"
1868 – 1951
She was also a spinster. She died at the age of 83. She inherited much of Rizal’s property in Dapitan.
SOLEDAD "LOLENG"
1870 – 1929
She was the youngest in the family became the wife of Pantaleon Quintero also from Calamba.

THE RIZAL ANCENTRAL HOUSE IN

CALAMBA

A large, two-storey building built of adobe stones, hardwood and tiled roof. It had many rooms: for the girls, the boys, another for
the couple, and quarters for servants. The family had a huge dining table and a big ceiling fan. They also had a library of more than a
thousand volumes of Latin and Spanish books. In their backyard there is a nipa hut, a native house whose roof was made of thatched
cogon grass and bamboo wall, where the children played. Many fruit-bearing trees surrounded the house.

PARTIAL VIEW OF THE RIZAL FAMILY’S LIBRARY WITH MORE THAN A THOUSAND VOLUMES OF LATIN AND SPANISH BOOKS.

Rizal’s family was one of the richest families in Calamba. Indeed, they belonged to the principalia, a town aristocracy in Spanish
Philippines. The main source of their livelihood was the sugarcane plantation which was being rented from the Dominicans. The
farm also had coconut (copra), rice fields, fruit-bearing trees and a large turkey farm. Moreover, the family milled their sugar and
had a Ham press. The Rizal family was also the first native family in Calamba to own a horse-drawn carriage, called the carruaje.
Doña Lolay, fond name for Doña Teodora, who belonged to an affluent family was relatively popular in Calamba and in Binan, and
was well respected by the town folks. At an early age Pepe (nickname of Jose) proved to be a truly gifted boy. His mother was his
first teacher. At the age of three he was already taught how to read the Latin and Spanish alphabets. He was trained to work fast
and efficiently, to be honest at all times, and to always pray to God.

His younger sister Concepcion, fondly called Concha, his playmate and best friend, died of a sickness at the age of three. Jose was
four years old at the time. Josefa, the next sister, should have taken the place of Concha, but with her health condition, being an
epileptic. Jose was probably more of a caretaker to her rather than a playmate. Trinidad or Trining, the sibling next to Josefa, was
even much closer to Jose. She was a girl with a strong character. It is as if jose had a new younger brother. Jose learned many stories
and legends even at a Young age. He remembered his “yaya” (Tagalog word: nanny) would always frighten him through her stories
of freaky night creatures. However, of all the stories told, he would never forget the story of “The Moth and the Flame”from the
book, El Amigo de los Ninos.

Some of those who became very influential to Jose when he was young were the three brothers of his mother they were uncles
Gregorio, Manuel and Jose Alberto. Pepe would always come along to his uncles who taught him things that would benefit him in
the future. Jose Alberto, an artist, would teach Pepe skills in sketching and drawing through the use of a pencil or charcoal.
Manuel, being an athlete, would instruct him the rudiments of fencing and wrestling. Lastly, his uncle Gregorio, who was a lover
of books and a writer, would instill in him a passion for writing and an appreciation to poetry and literature

JOSE ALBERTO ALONZO

When Doña Teodora gave birth to Soledad, the eleventh child in the family, Don Francisco together with Jose went to Antipolo for a
pilgrimage. Jose was then seven years old. Afterwards, they proceeded to Manila where they visited Saturnina who was then a
boarding student at La Concordia College in Sta. Ana.

BIÑAN STUDIES
At the age of nine, Jose would be sent by his parents to Biñan to continue his primary education under the instruction of Maestro
Justiniano Aquino Cruz. Maestro Justiniano was a renowned teacher adept in Latin and Spanish grammar. In fact, he was a former
teacher of his brother Paciano.

In the first weeks of his studies in Biñan, he would receive ruler blows on his palms for his mistakes and misbehavior. The pain of
Maestro Justiniano’s punishment helped him to take his studies seriously. Maestro Justiniano was of the old school who believed in
the maxim “Spare the rod and spoil the child." Later on, Jose would be able to catch up quickly and win many prizes in competitions
held by the maestro. He had practically beaten all his Biñan schoolmates.
Maestro Justiniano, though a strict disciplinarian, was also a conscientious instructor. The teacher told Jose, who had been only a
few months under his care, that he already knew as much as his master. Thus, he advised his parents that Jose be sent to Manila to
pursue higher education.

Being physically frail and thin, Jose was initially bullied by his classmates. One of them was a boy named Pedro whom he
remembered as the first one he had a brawl with. Another one was Andres Salandanan who almost broke his arm during a “bunong
braso”or arm-wrestling match.

ARM WRESTLING
Arm-wrestling is a sport with two Participants. Each participant places one arm, both put either the right or left, on a surface, with
their elbows bent and touching the surface, and they grip each other’s hand. The goal is to pin the other’s arm onto the surface, with
the winner’s arm over the loser’s arm.

Biñan had been a valuable experience for young Rizal. There he had met a host of relatives and from them heard much of the past of
his father’s family. He befriended Leandro, his cousin’s son. His best friend in the class, though, was Jose Guevarra, his painting
partner in the class of a painting guru Mang Juancho, the ageing father-in-law of Maestro Justiniano. Jose also received instructions
from Maestro Lucas Padua and from Leon Monroy, his tutor in Latin.

INJUSTICE, LIBERALISM AND MARTYRDOM

A. THE IMPRISONMENT OF RIZAL’S MOTHER.

Before the end of 1871 and just right after the Christmas celebration, Dona Teodora was arrested on malicious charge that she had
conspired with her brother, Jose Alberto, in the attempt to murder the latter’s wife, Teodora Formosa, by POISONING. Ordinarily,
she should have been sent to the Calamba jail. However, it was payback time, for the arresting officials were Spaniards who had
some grudge with Don Kikoy. These people, according to Rizal, have even frequented their house before as visitors in celebrating
various occasions. She was instead tied at the back of a wagon and was dragged to travel by foot from Calamba to Santa Cruz
(capital of Laguna). This was equivalent to a day’s walk. She was then imprisoned in Santa Cruz city jail. The imprisonment would go
on for two years and a half, and Francisco would use all his resources just to see his wife free from jail. The case could have ended
before 1873 and Lolay could have been freed, but because of the intervention of Mayor Antonino Vivencio del Rosario the case was
reopened in the Royal Audencia. Don Francisco had to hire two of some of the best lawyers from Manila for the case.

B. THE SPANISH REVOLUTION.

In 1868, a revolution broke out in Spain in defiance against the oppressive reign of Queen Isabel II. This was staged and led by two of
her generals, Marshals Francisco Serrano and Juan Prim. The Spanish people called it as ‘Revolucion de Disgusto’ or ‘Revolution of
Disgust’. At the end of the event, Queen Isabel II was ousted and took refuge in France. Francisco Serrano became the Marshal
Regent of Spain. Eventually, with the will of the people, Serrano created a republican form of government and ended absolute
monarchy in Spain. This move started to pave the way for liberal forms to be introduced not only to Spain but also in the colonies. A
new Governor General was named for the Philippines, Carlos Ma. Dela Torre.

C. DELA TORRE AND LIBERALISM.

Probably the best administrator the Philippines ever had during the Spanish rule, dela Torre and his liberalism was highly favored in
Manila and the rest of the territory. Censorship was abolished and government criticisms were accepted as reforms recommended
by various sectors were welcomed. Some of the reforms that were being considered or already introduced by the new
administration were:

A.The Filipinization of Parishes: the handing over of parishes to Filipino secular priests as successors to the Spanish missionaries from
the religious orders.

b. the abolition of polo in Cavite which affected the agricultural economy of the province and the people themselves.

c. the lifting of heavy taxes to native military servicemen and other reforms that became beneficial to the locals in the royal
army
d. the Education Decree of 1869 which placed all schools under government supervision. This gave way for many natives to have
children go to college and university: and

e. The creation of the Guardia Civil which was truly intended for the protection of civilians from bandits, pirates and ordinary
criminals.

D. THE SECULARIZATION MOVEMENT.

The Secularization of the Parishes was pioneered by Fr. Pedro Pelaez. It was a move to give opportunities for the secular Filipino
priests to occupy parishes, the occupation of which they were really trained to do. Since the beginning of the colonial period
parishes have been traditionally awarded to missionaries, the regular Spanish friars. This was due to the Spanish government’s
distrust among natives. The colonial government continued to be in control of the Church during the entire Spanish period in the
Philippines.

The only time the native priests were given the opportunity to take care of parishes was during the expulsion of the Jesuits in the
Philippines. However, this only served as an interlude for it was cut right after the Jesuits were returned by the Church to service.
After the untimely death of P. Pedro Pelaez, who was a casualty of an earthquake that destroyed parts of the Manila Cathedral, his
follower P. Jose Burgos took his place to champion the secular priests. The ageing P. Mariano Gomez and the young P. Jacinto
Zamora partnered him in the movement.

A REVERSAL OF FORTUNE.

The founding of the republic in Spain created issues that would take the Philippines back to the old ways. One of these issues is
that Spain cannot be Spain without a traditional monarch, and so, they crowned a new one in the person of Amadeo of Savoy, a
new king under the new Spanish Constitution. Another issue is that the liberalism that was achieved by Spain must only be
confined in Spain and the colonies must have, still, a separate set of laws that would not endanger Spanish interest. Liberalism in
the Philippines, as introduced by dela Torre, had already starting to encourage many Filipino patriots to petition the government for
more political reforms. But with Serrano ousted from power, the Spanish Cortes, the parliament, adopted a new administrative
policy that was implemented for the colonies, a policy of terror.

THE RESTORATION OF TERROR.

Military rule was restored to the Philippines as a new administrator arrived to replace dela Torre. With a vow to erase from the
minds of the Filipinos the joys of the liberalism and a dream for a future independence, military action was executed by Gov. Gen.
Rafael Izquierdo. He immediately reversed all the reforms of the former governor and used the Guardia Civil to protect the interest
of the government from the civilian population. As a consequence, he attracted many enemies from various sectors who were
affected.

THE CAVITE MUTINY AND MARTYRDOM OF THE GOMBURZA

On the night of January 20, 1872 about 200 Filipino soldiers and workmen of the Cavite Arsenal at Fort San Felipe rose in a violent
mutiny under the leadership of Sgt. La Madrid. Unfortunately, this Cavite Mutiny was suppressed two days later by troop
reinforcement from Manila. La Madrid and the mutineers were defeated by Lt. Felipe Ginoves. The Spanish authorities magnified
Jose Burgos as the mastermind of the incident together with Jacinto Zamora and Mariano Gomez. The case was rebellion.

Evidence coming from the Intramuros investigation included testimonies of those who were captured in the Cavite Mutiny which
included Francisco Zaldua. According to the prosecution, Jose Burgos did not only plan a mutiny but a rebellion of which the aim
was the assassination of Izquierdo and an attack on Intramuros. He allegedly financed and mastermind this move and was
supported by native soldiers and citizens, not only from Cavite but also from Manila and other provinces. The Cavite Mutiny was
mere error that failed the whole grand plan. On February 17, 1872, Gomburza were executed upon the ORDER of the Gov. Gen.
Rafael Izquierdo. Paciano, Jose’s brother saw the execution. The search for those others involved, likewise, commenced. As a
result, many of those accused of direct or indirect involvement were either exiled or executed.

Paciano who was then a student of Colegio de San Jose and was boarding with Father Burgos was gravely affected by the event for
he was a trusted assistant of Burgos in the fight for the Filipinization of the parishes. His close association with Burgos was so crucial
that after the execution of the three priests, evading arrest or suspicion, he quit studies in Colegio de San Jose, where Burgos
became his professor, and returned to Calamba. Here, he told the heroic Story of Burgos to his family and revealed his kept secrets
to his father. Don Francisco on his part, made a specific instruction to all his children that no one must talk anymore about Burgos
(even though a family relative), the Cavite mutiny, nor the word “filibustero’ (anti-government). This was for Paciano’s protection.

The martyrdom of Gomburza and the injustice to his mother made Rizal to become truly aware of the evils of Spanish tyranny, and
that even priests can get executed as long as you are not one of them, a Spaniard.